Latest Reports from IWPR

The Status of Women in Western North Carolina
by Ariane Hegewisch, Rhiana Gunn-Wright, and Claudia Williams
(January 2013)

Women in Western North Carolina, as in North Carolina as a whole, have made much progress during the last few decades. The majority of women work—many in professional and managerial jobs—and women are a mainstay of the economic health of their communities. Yet, there are some ways in which women’s status still lags behind men’s, and not all women are prospering equally. This briefing paper provides basic information about the status of women in Western North Carolina—including Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties—focusing on women’s earnings and workforce participation, level of education, poverty, access to child care, and health status. It also provides background demographic information about women in the region.

The Status of Women in Alexander, Burke, and Caldwell Counties, North Carolina
by Cynthia Hess, Ph.D., and Youngmin Yi
(January 2013)

Women in Alexander, Burke, and Caldwell counties, as in North Carolina as a whole, have made much progress during the last few decades, but more remains to be done to elevate women’s status. The majority of women work—many in professional and managerial jobs—and women are a mainstay of the economic health of their communities. Yet, there are ways in which women’s status still lags behind men’s, and not all women are prospering equally. This briefing paper provides information about the status of women in Alexander, Burke, and Caldwell counties, focusing on women’s earnings and workforce participation, level of education, poverty, access to child care, and health status. It also provides basic demographic information about women in this area.

The Status of Women in Buncombe County, North Carolina
by Cynthia Hess, Ph.D., and Youngmin Yi
(January 2013)

Women in Buncombe County, as in North Carolina as a whole, have made much progress during the last
few decades, yet more remains to be done to elevate women’s status. The majority of women work—
many in professional and managerial jobs—and women are a mainstay of the economic health of their
communities. Yet, there are some ways in which women’s status still lags behind men’s, and not all
women are prospering equally. This briefing paper provides basic information about the status of women
in Buncombe County, focusing on women’s earnings and workforce participation, level of education,
poverty, access to child care, and health status. It also provides background demographic information
about women in the county.

The Status of Women in Henderson and Transylvania Counties, North Carolina
by Cynthia Hess, Ph.D.,and Youngmin Yi
(January 2013)

Women in Henderson and Transylvania counties, as in North Carolina as a whole, have made much progress during the last few decades. The majority of women work—many in professional and managerial jobs—and women are a mainstay of the economic health of their communities. Yet, in some ways women’s status still lags behind men’s, and not all women are prospering equally. This briefing paper provides basic information about the status of women in Henderson and Transylvania counties, focusing on women’s earnings and workforce participation, level of education, poverty, access to child care, and health status. It also provides basic demographic information about women in this area.

Women in Cleveland, McDowell, Polk, and Rutherford counties, as in North Carolina as a whole, have made much progress during the last few decades. The majority of women in these counties combined are in the labor force—many in professional and managerial jobs—and women are a mainstay of the economic health of their communities. Yet, in some ways women’s status in these counties still lags behind men’s, and not all women are prospering equally. This briefing paper provides information about the status of women in Cleveland, McDowell, Polk, and Rutherford counties, focusing on women’s earnings and workforce participation, level of education, poverty, access to child care, and health status. It also provides basic demographic information about women in this area.

Women in the western counties of North Carolina, and the state as a whole, have made much progress during the last few decades. The majority of women in these counties work—many in professional and managerial jobs—and women are a mainstay of the economic health of their communities. Yet, there are ways in which women’s status still lags behind men’s, and not all women are prospering equally. This briefing paper provides basic information about the status of women in five western North Carolina counties—Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, and Yancey—focusing on women’s earnings and workforce participation, level of education, poverty, access to child care, and health status. It also provides basic demographic information about women in the region.

The Status of Women in the Asheville Metropolitan Area, North Carolina
by Cynthia Hess, Ph.D., Youngmin Yi, and Alicia Sheares
(January 2013)

This briefing paper provides basic information about the status of women in the Asheville area (which includes Buncombe and Madison counties), focusing on women’s earnings and workforce participation, level of education, poverty, access to child care, and health status. It also provides background demographic information about women in the region.

The Status of Women in the Triangle Metropolitan Area, North Carolina
by Ariane Hegewisch, Rhiana Gunn-Wright, and Claudia Williams
(January 2013)

This briefing paper provides basic information about the status of women in the Triangle area, focusing on women’s earnings and workforce participation, level of education, poverty, access to child care, and health status. It also provides background demographic information about women in the region.

The Status of Women in the Greensboro Metropolitan Area, North Carolina
by Ariane Hegewisch, Rhiana Gunn-Wright, and Claudia Williams
(January 2013)

Women in the Greensboro area, and in North Carolina as a whole, have made much progress during the last few decades. The majority of women work—many in professional jobs—and women are essential to the economic health of their communities. Yet, there are some ways in which women’s status still lags behind men’s, and not all women are prospering equally. This fact sheet provides basic information about the status of women in the Greensboro metropolitan area—including Alamance, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph, Stokes, and Yadkin counties—focusing on women’s earnings and workforce participation, level of education, poverty, access to child care, and health status. It also provides background demographic information about women in the region.

The Status of Women in Guilford County, North Carolina
by Cynthia Hess, Ph.D. and Maureen Sarna
(November 2012)

Women in Guilford County, and in North Carolina as a whole, have made significant progress in the last few decades. The majority of women work—many in professional and managerial jobs—and women are a mainstay of the economic health of their communities. Yet, there are some ways in which women’s status still lags behind men’s, and not all women are prospering equally. This briefing paper provides basic information about the status of women in Guilford County, focusing on women’s earnings and workforce participation, level of education, poverty, access to child care, and health status. It also provides background demographic information about women in the region.

Using Research on the Status of Women to Improve Public Policies in the Middle East and North Africa: A Capacity-Building Toolkit for Nongovernmental Organizations
by Denise L. Baer, Ph.D., Jane Henrici, Ph.D., Layla Moughari, Barbara Gault, Ph.D.
(October 2012)

This toolkit provides methods, techniques and tips for individuals and organizations to
undertake and use research on the status of women as a mechanism for positive change
in the lives of women, their families and communities. It was designed as a part of a
larger project, the Status of Women in the Middle East and North Africa (SWMENA).

The Status of Women in North Carolina: Executive Summary
by Institute for Women's Policy Research
(October 2012)

The status of women in North Carolina reveals both women’s progress over the last few
decades and places where their advancement has slowed or stalled. A report from the Institute
for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), The Status of Women in North Carolina, shows that
women are well-represented in the state’s elective executive positions and hold a higher proportion
of state legislature seats than in 1996; have experienced a narrowing of the gender
wage gap; and are much more likely now than 20 years ago to work in managerial or professional
positions and to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher. In addition, women in North
Carolina are the equal or main bread winner in close to four out of ten families with children.
The teen pregnancy rate in the state has also declined dramatically in recent years,
and North Carolina’s women are more likely to receive certain preventive health procedures,
such as mammograms, than women in the nation overall.

Key Findings on the Economic Status of Women in North Carolina
by Cynthia Hess, Ph.D., and Ariane Hegewisch
(August 2012)

Women in North Carolina have made significant social and economic advances in recent decades, but the need for further progress remains. A forthcoming report from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), The Status of Women in North Carolina, shows that many of North Carolina’s women are vulnerable to challenges such as unemployment, a persistent wage gap, poverty, and the high cost of child care. In addition, women in the state experience stubborn disparities in opportunities and outcomes—disparities that exist among women of different race and ethnic groups as well as among women from various geographic areas within the state. Addressing these challenges and disparities is essential to promoting the well-being and vibrancy of North Carolina’s many communities.

The Status of Women and Girls in New Haven, Connecticut
by Cynthia Hess, Ph.D., Rhiana Gunn-Wright, and Claudia Williams
(August 2012)

This report is the result of conversations over nearly two
years among women leaders in New Haven about the
growing need for data on women and girls in New Haven.
The report has four goals: 1) to provide baseline
information on women and girls in New Haven; 2) to
inform policy and program priorities for women and girls in
New Haven; 3) to provide easily accessible data on women
and girls in New Haven; and 4) to create a platform for
advocacy and dialogue on issues affecting women and
girls in New Haven.

In the current economic recovery, women are facing a gap in employment that jeopardizes the well-being and economic security of themselves and their families. This briefing paper, prepared by a group of scholars and researchers collaborating as the Women Scholars Forum, proposes specific strategies to meet the needs of women facing joblessness in the recovery from the Great Recession of 2007–2009. This group, noting that women’s earnings are essential to the welfare of their families, is especially concerned that federal programs reach those most in need, including single mothers, women of color, and those with less education. The members of the Women Scholars Forum, listed below, offer these recommendations in order to achieve job growth and economic prosperity.

#C384, Briefing Paper, 5 pages

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Widows: Causes and Effects
by Heidi Hartmann, Ph.D.
(June 2011)

Women, Poverty, and Economic Insecurity in Wisconsin and the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis MSA
by Claudia Williams and Ariane Hegewisch
(April 2011)

Since the beginning of the recession in 2007, with its high unemployment and rising poverty rates, more families than
ever are struggling to make ends meet. This briefing paper analyzes the impact of the recession on Wisconsin's families.
It finds that nearly two-thirds of all households in poverty in Wisconsin are headed by single women and, across-theboard,
women are more likely than men to be poor. Families headed by single mothers and families depending on
women’s wages have been the hardest hit.